“But for some reason, when alcohol entered into his life, his family decided to take this approach, and kept him locked up for all this time."

Ederson Silva, a childhood friend of Armando, said: "Whenever we asked about him they always said they same thing, no, he's living in the northeast, he's well, he's working, he's building his family there.

Globo

Shocked De Andrade did not recognise those who were rescuing him were police officers after being shut off for the world for most of his life

Globo

His legs appeared emaciated in the video, which was just taken just minutes after he was discovered by police

“That's all they said to us."

Armando's father Amancio de Andrade denied the allegations, claiming that his son left home aged 18 and returned last week, and asked him to lock him in the room as he wanted to get clean from drug addiction.

He said: "He's a grown man. He never got in touch. Then last week I opened my door and he was there.

“We gave him food and let him stay in the basement room. He asked me to lock the door so he couldn't get out."

Armando is being cared for in the psychiatric ward a local hospital, where he is reportedly to traumatised to speak.

A video of a friend talking with him shows the man only able to nod or shake his head to respond to questions.

Police have launched an investigation while Armando's father and step-mother, who have not yet been arrested, have reportedly fled their home following aggression from angry neighbours.

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